Handling method of body fluid sample and analysis apparatus using the same

ABSTRACT

Sample sampling to an analysis apparatus  200  or  820  for analyzing a biochemical analysis item is performed by a pipetting device  202  or  840  which uses a repetitively used pipette nozzle, and sample sampling to an analysis apparatus  100  or  810  for analyzing an immune analysis item is performed by a pipetting device  102  or  830  which uses a disposable nozzle tip. A sample bottle containing a sample to be analyzed on both of a biochemical analysis item and an immune analysis item is sample-pipetted by the nozzle tip first, and then transported so as to be sample-pipetted by the pipette nozzle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a technology for analyzing abody fluid sample, and particularly relates to a handling method of abody fluid sample and an analysis apparatus using the handling methodwhich can sample the body fluid samples using a plurality of pipettingdevices.

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Arts

[0004] Analysis of body fluid samples such as blood and urine samplesfrom patients is widely performed in order to diagnose pathologies, andautomated analysis apparatuses are used in hospitals and clinicalexamination rooms.

[0005] In order to diagnose the pathologies, examination resultsobtainable by only one automatic analyzer are insufficient in mostcases. In such a case, it is necessary to collect examination data froma plurality of analysis units. Japanese Patent Application Laid-OpenNos.9-281113 and 9-304396 disclose an analysis system which can analyzevarious kinds of analysis items by one system.

[0006] These prior arts propose an analysis system in which a pluralityof analysis units for biochemical analysis are arranged along a samplerack transportation line, and a sample rack from a rack supply unit isdropped in at any one of the analysis units to pipette a sample on thesample rack using a pipette nozzle.

[0007] The U.S. Pat. No. 5,470,534 discloses an analysis system in whicha biochemical analyzer, an immune analyzer and a nucleic acid analyzerare arranged along a transportation path for a sample bottle so that asingle sample can be measured by each of the analyzers. In this priorart, whether or not the sample should proceed to a second measuringstage is determined depending on an analysis result in a first measuringstage. A biochemical analysis item is analyzed in the first measuringstage, and a sample necessary to proceed to the second measuring stagein order to identify a pathology is analyzed by the immune analyzerand/or the nucleic acid analyzer in the second stage.

[0008] On the other hand, in the apparatus automatically analyzing bodyfluid samples, many samples are successively pipetted usually using onepipette nozzle. Therefore, there arises a contamination problem of thefollowing samples caused by residue of the preceding sample on thepipette nozzle. A technology in regard to carry-over of this kind isdisclosed, for example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-OpenNo.4-169851. In this example, analysis of a biochemical analysis itemsuch as measurement of components usually contained in blood andanalysis of an immune analysis item such as detecting an antigen or anantibody utilizing cohesive reaction of latex particles using a row ofreaction containers formed in a circular shape.

[0009] Further, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.4-169851 pointsout that useless consumption of washing solution can be prevented byspending sufficient washing time in washing a reagent pipette nozzleafter pipetting a reagent for an immune analysis item using a washingsolution or by increasing a delivery flow rate of the washing solutionto wash the reagent pipette nozzle, and by spending short washing timein washing a reagent pipette nozzle after pipetting a reagent for abiochemical analysis item or by decreasing a delivery flow rate of thewashing solution to wash the reagent pipette nozzle.

[0010] In addition, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.4-169851also points out that in a case of a sample pipette nozzle different fromthe reagent pipette nozzle, useless consumption of washing solution canbe prevented by controlling the flow rate of the washing solution.

[0011] As an another type to pipette a body fluid sample, it is widelyknown to use a disposable nozzle tip. For example, U.S. Pat. 5,639,425discloses a method comprising the steps of providing a tip holder at aposition within a movable range of a coupling tube which can be coupledto a nozzle tip, transporting a nozzle tip from a tip rack on which manynozzle tips are arranged to the position of the tip holder, thencoupling the nozzle tip with an end portion of the coupling tube on thetip holder, discharging a sample sucked inside the coupled nozzle tipinto a reaction container, and after discharging the sample, removingthe nozzle tip from the coupling tube at a tip detaching station.

[0012] Moreover, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.2-25755discloses an analysis apparatus in which a plurality of reaction partsare arranged near the transportation line for transporting the samplerack, and a bypass line and a sample dilution part are disposed betweenthe transportation line and the respective reaction parts.

[0013] This reference discloses further that the plurality of reactionparts are constructed to analyze the sample by a calorimathod, an ionselective electrode method and an immunity method. In this example, thesample rack is moved from the transportation line to the bypass line bya rack changer provided in the transportation line, and a dilution armpippetes the sample from the sample rack on the bypass line to thesample dilution part, and other pippetting arm having a differentconstruction pippetes the sample from the sample dilution part to thereaction part. Furthermore, it is disclosed that it is preferable forthe plurality of the reaction parts to be arranged in a sequence toprevent the mutual contamination between the samples.

[0014] [Discussion of the Prior Arts]

[0015] Many methods for measuring immune analysis items include anoperation for binding a label substance to solid phase utilizing anantigen-antibody reaction (that is, an immune reaction).

[0016] In a case where there are needs to analyze both of an immuneanalysis item through such a method and a biochemical analysis itemthrough a method of measuring an absorbance of a reaction solutionproduced as a result of the chemical reaction, or there are needs toanalyze a DNA analysis item and biochemical analysis item, it isconvenient for handling samples that plurality of analysis units areplaced in an analysis system and a single sample bottle is commonly usedfor each of the analysis units.

[0017] However in U.S. Pat. No. 5,470,534 in connection with theanalysis systems of such a type, there is no description on measures foravoiding the carry-over between samples.

[0018] Furthermore, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.9-281113and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.9-304396, plurality ofanalysis units are disclosed, however there is no description to arrangeboth of a biochemical analysis unit and a immune analysis unit, or toarrange both of the biochemical analysis unit and a DNA analysis unit.

[0019] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.4-169851 proposes thatthe carry-over is avoided only by washing operation using a singlepipette nozzle repetitively used for both of a biochemical analysis itemand an immune analysis item. However, since there is a limitation in theactually applicable washing time or washing flow rate, it is difficultto eliminate the effect of carry-over on a measured value of an immuneanalysis item in which existence of an extremely small amount of aresidual sample causes a problem.

[0020] According to the construction using the disposable nozzle tipdescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,637,425, there is no problem on the effectof carry-over between samples since the nozzle tip is exchanged for eachsample. However, since there are the coupling operation and thedetaching operation of the nozzle tip for each sample, the method has adisadvantage in that a sufficient processing capacity can not beattained when a large volume of analysis items such as biochemicalanalysis items must be processed in a short time.

[0021] In a analysis apparatus described in Japanese Patent ApplicationLaid-Open No.2-25755, there is not any difference between theconstruction of the plurality of the reaction parts, and it is intendedto prevent the mutual contamination between the samples only by changingthe arranging sequence of the reaction parts. However, the dilution armand the pippeting arm are commonly used for all of the samplesrepeatedly, therefore, it becomes difficult to avoid the carry-overbetween the samples caused by using these arms.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0022] [Object of the Invention]

[0023] An object of the present invention is not to be affected bycarry-over between samples on a measured value of an immune analysisitem though a repetitively used pipette nozzle in sample sampling forbiochemical analysis items is employed.

[0024] Another object of the present invention is to provide a methodand an apparatus which can prevent deterioration of the processingcapacity in regard to biochemical analysis items and can avoid thecarry-over between samples in regard to immune analysis items in a casewhere the biochemical analysis items and the immune analysis items areanalyzed using separate analysis units, respectively.

[0025] A further object of the present invention is to make it possibleto avoid the carry-over between samples by using both of a pipettingdevice of a type which samples a sample using a repetitively usedpipette nozzle and a pipetting device of a type which samples a sampleusing a disposable nozzle.

[0026] A further object of the present invention is to provide a methodand an apparatus which can process a specified sample without beingaffected by the carry-over between samples when being ordered to analyzeboth of analysis item which should highly avoid the carry-over andanalysis item which does not need so much to avoid the carry-over.

[0027] A further object of the present invention is to provide anapparatus which can select a re-measurement logic and/or analysischannel for the re-measurement automatically, before the re-measurementof the sample is performed according to a measurement result of thesample once measured.

[0028] [Statement of the Invention]

[0029] The present invention is characterized by an analysis apparatusin which a sample is sampled from a single sample bottle to a pluralityof receiving containers using a plurality of sample pipetting devices,and the each sample received in each of the receiving containers isanalyzed, wherein the plurality of sample pipetting devices includefirst pipetting devices using a disposable nozzle tip and secondpipetting devices using a repetitive used pipette nozzle, and operationof sampling the sample from the single sample bottle is executed by thesecond pipetting devices after executed by the first pipetting devices.

[0030] It is preferable that the analysis apparatus comprises at leasttwo kinds of analysis units, and a first analysis unit has the firstpipetting device using a disposable nozzle tip and a second analysisunit has the second pipetting device using a repetitively used pipettenozzle. In this case, in regard to a specified sample to be analysismeasured in the first and the second analysis unit, sample sampling isexecuted in the first analysis unit in prior to sample sampling in thesecond analysis unit, and the sample sampling in the second analysisunit is executed after completing of sampling the specified sample bythe first analysis unit.

[0031] The analysis apparatus comprises a standby unit for letting asample rack which has been already executed sample sampling in the firstanalysis unit but not yet executed sample sampling in the secondanalysis unit stand by therein (the sample rack has the specifiedsample). The specified sample is transported to the first analysis unitfrom the standby unit to be sampled in the first analysis unit forre-measurement before sampling the specified sample in the secondanalysis unit when a measured result of the first analysis unit inregard to the specified sample is necessary to execute there-measurement.

[0032] By constructing in such that the first analysis unit measures animmune analysis item or a DNA analysis item, and the second analysisunit measures a biochemical analysis item, the immune analysis item orthe DNA analysis item is sampled before sampling relating to thebiochemical analysis item.

[0033] In this case, whenever the samples are changed, the nozzle tipsare changed, and the analysis measured value of the immune analysis itemor the DNA analysis item is not affected by the carry-over betweensamples.

[0034] Furthermore, the analysis measured value of the biochemicalanalysis item does not receive the affection by the carry-over betweensamples by washing the pipette nozzle repetitively used for sampling thesample relating to the biochemical analysis item by a well-known washingmethod whenever the samples are changed.

[0035] In the analysis apparatus, an analysis item which needs to avoidthe affection of very small carry-over between the samples, that is, aspecified analysis item requiring sample sampling by a nozzle tip ispre-registered in the analysis apparatus. Such a specified analysis itemis stored in a memory unit in a control unit, and if the specifiedanalysis item is included among items to be analyzed on many sampleseach of which is instructed by an operator, the sample is transportedinitially to the first analysis unit to be sampled using a nozzle tipbefore it is transported the other analysis apparatus when samplesampling is performed on the sample.

[0036] A specified sample rack having a specified sample required to beanalyzed in both of the first and the second analysis unit is restrictedin the transportation order or the transportation path as describedabove, but a sample rack having only samples not required to be sampledby the nozzle tip is transported so as to be let drop in at theplurality of analysis units in arranging order depending on necessity tobe sampled. In this case, the sampling process is efficiently performed.

[0037] In a case where the plurality of analysis units include a firstanalysis unit having a pipetting device using a disposable nozzle tipand a second and a third analysis apparatus having a pipetting deviceusing a repetitively used pipette nozzle and the plurality of analysisunits are arranged at positions in the order of the third analysisapparatus, the first analysis unit and the second analysis unit from theside near the rack supply unit, in regard to a specified sample rackhaving a specified sample necessary for analysis measurement in thefirst, the second and the third analysis apparatus, the specified samplerack being transported to the first analysis unit to execute samplesampling using the nozzle tip first, then the specified sample rackbeing let stand by in the standby unit, the specified sample rack onstandby in the standby unit being transferred to the rack transportingapparatus through the returning line when re-measurement of thespecified sample by the first analysis unit is determined to benecessary, then sample sampling for the re-measurement in the firstanalysis unit being executed.

[0038] Then, in the first analysis unit, the specified sample rackhaving the specified sample finished sampling of sample forre-measurement is transferred to the rack transporting apparatus throughthe returning line, and then the specified sample is sampled in thethird analysis apparatus and/or the second analysis unit. On the otherhand, when re-measurement of the specified sample is determined to beunnecessary, the specified sample rack on standby in the standby unit istransferred to the rack transporting apparatus through the returningline and then the specified sample is sampled in the third analysisapparatus and/or the second analysis unit.

[0039] A method of handling a body fluid sample in accordance with thepresent invention is characterized by that a sample rack having a sampleis positioned to at least one out of a plurality of analysis units, andanalysis of the sample sampled on the sample rack is performed in theanalysis apparatus, wherein the method comprises the steps of processingthe sample by an analyzer having a first analysis unit having a firstpipetting device using a disposable nozzle tip and a second analysisunit having a second pipetting device using a repetitively used pipettenozzle; transporting a specified sample rack having a specified sampleto be analyzed in the first and the second analysis unit to the firstanalysis unit to sample the specified sample in the first analysis unitin prior to transferring the sample rack to the second analysis unit;letting the specified sample rack finished sampling of sample in thefirst analysis unit temporarily stand by in a standby unit beforetransporting the specified sample rack to the second analysis unit;judging whether or not re-measurement of the specified sample by thefirst analysis unit is necessary; transporting the specified sample rackfrom the standby unit to the second analysis unit and sampling thespecified sample by the pipette nozzle if the result of judgment is thatre-measurement of the specified sample by the first analysis unit is notnecessary; transporting the specified sample rack from the standby unitto the first analysis unit and sampling the specified sample forre-measurement in said first analysis unit if the result of judgment isthat re-measurement of the specified sample by the first analysis unitis necessary; and transporting the specified sample rack finishedsampling of the sample for re-measurement to the second analysis unitand sampling the specified sample by the pipette nozzle.

[0040] Furthermore, in the handling method of the biochemical samplebased on the present invention, an image plane to for selecting theanalysis items relating to the respective samples is displayed on adisplay device, and an indication field to indicate a necessity to avoidthe carry-over between the sample relating to the selected analysis itemis displayed on the display device. When the sample to be analyzed theanalysis item which is indicated to need to avoid the carry-over and theanalysis item which is not indicated to need to avoid the carry-over,are sampled in the analysis part, the sampling relating to the analysisitem which is not indicated to need to avoid the carry-over isperformed, after the sampling relating to the analysis item which isindicated to need to avoid the carry-over finishes.

[0041] In this case, the information to show the necessity to avoid thecarry-over is stored in a memory device relating to the analysis itemwhich is indicated the necessity to avoid the carry-over, after that, amemorized information may be output on the display device when the sameanalysis items are selected.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0042]FIG. 1 is a plane view showing the outline of a configuration ofan embodiment in accordance with the present invention.

[0043]FIG. 2 is an enlarged plane view showing an analysis unit for theimmune analysis items of the analysis apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

[0044]FIG. 3 is a view for explaining operation of a pipetting device inthe analysis unit shown in FIG. 2.

[0045]FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view showing an analysis unitfor the biochemical analysis items of the analysis apparatus shown inFIG. 1.

[0046]FIG. 5 is a view for explaining a screen for setting a samplevolume, a reagent volume and a carry-over avoiding level.

[0047]FIG. 6 is a view for showing an example of a screen for selectinga designated analysis item for each sample.

[0048]FIG. 7 is a view showing an example of the screen for selecting adesignated analysis item for the same sample as that in FIG. 6.

[0049]FIG. 8 is an outline of a configuration of an another embodimentin accordance with the present invention.

[0050]FIG. 9 is an outline of a configuration of the third embodiment inaccordance with the present invention.

[0051]FIG. 10 is a view for explaining an operating flow of the analysisapparatus shown in FIG. 9.

[0052]FIGS. 11A and 11B respectively are views for showing a processflow for transporting the sample rack of the analysis apparatus shown inFIG. 9.

[0053]FIG. 12 is an outline of a configuration of the fourth embodimentin accordance with the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0054] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a samplebottle containing a body fluid sample such as blood, blood serum orurine is handled in a state of being held in a sample rack as a bottleholder. It is preferable that the sample rack can hold one or moresample bottles, but in the following embodiment, an example as that onesample rack can hold up to five sample bottles.

[0055]FIG. 1 is a plane view showing the outline of a configuration ofan embodiment of an automatic analysis apparatus to which the presentinvention is applied. In FIG. 1, a rack supply unit 10 is operated so asto supply a sample rack 2 to a rack transportation line 60 of a racktransportation apparatus. The rack supply unit 10 comprises an areacapable of placing a tray on which a plurality of sample racks arearranged and an identification read unit 15. The rack supply unit 10 issometimes called as a rack loading unit because the rack supply unit isloaded with the sample rack 2 having samples. The sample racks 2supplied to the rack supply unit are pushed to an entrance side of therack transportation line 60 one-by-one by a well-known rack pushingmechanism. The pushed sample rack 2 is moved up to a reading position ofthe identification read unit 15 by a mover such as a movable hook.

[0056] The sample rack 2 is, for example, a rectangular parallelepipedshaped holder, and can hold the plurality of sample bottles 5 (ReferFIG. 2) in a row along the lateral direction of the sample rack. To thesample rack 2 of this type, a bar-code label having coded rackidentification information including kind of rack and rack number isattached. In each of the sample bottle 5, a bar-code label having codedsample information such as bottle identification number, patient code,medical section number, sample receipt number is attached.

[0057] The automatic analysis apparatus of FIG. 1 comprises a rackstoker 30 orderly storing the sample racks transported by the racktransportation line 60. A electrolyte item analysis unit 300, a immuneitem or DNA item analysis unit 100, a biochemical analysis unit 200 anda standby unit 20 as a standby unit are arranged in this order from aposition near the rack supply apparatus along the rack transportationline 60 between the rack supply apparatus 10 and the rack stoker 30.

[0058] The electrolyte item analysis unit 300 comprises a pipettingdevice 302 which pipettes a sample from a sample bottle on the samplerack stopping at a sample pipetting position on the rack transportationline 60 for the electrolyte item analysis unit 300 to a dilutioncontainer 305 contained in the electrolyte item analysis unit 300.

[0059] The pipetting device 302 has a repetitively used pipette nozzle,that is, a pippeting nozzle commonly used for the different samples,sucks and holds a sample in a sample container on the sample rack in thepipette nozzle, and discharges a predetermined amount of the held sampleinto the dilution container 305.

[0060] The sample diluted with a diluent in the dilution container 305is conducted to a flow cell by a sucking tube (not shown), andelectrolytic components contained in the sample such as sodium ion,potassium ion, chlorine ion and so on are measured using an ionselective electrode for each ion arranged in the flow cell. An analysisunit control part 301 contained in the analysis unit 300 executescalculation to obtain a concentration of each of the electrolyticcomponents based on a detected signal of each ion, and reports theobtained measured value to a total system control unit 50.

[0061] The immune item or DNA item analysis unit 100 uses a disposablenozzle tip, as to be described later, and comprises a pipetting device102 which is operated so as to suck a sample from a sample bottle on thesample rack positioned at a sample sampling position on a bypass line 61into the nozzle tip, hold the sucked sample in the nozzle tip and thendischarge the preset amount of the held sample into a reaction containeron a reaction disk 103.

[0062] The pipetting device 102 exchanges the nozzle tip every time whenthe samples are changed. For example, in a case that there is oneanalysis item to be analyzed in the analysis unit 100 relating to aformer sample, the pipetting device 102 removes the used nozzle tipafter one sampling operation is performed for the former sample, andthen a new nozzle tip is mounted.

[0063] On the other hand, in a case that there is three analysis itemsto be analyzed in the analysis unit 100 relating to the following nextsample, the pipetting device 102 removes the used nozzle tip after thetree times of the sampling to the three reaction containers areperformed, after that, the new nozzle tip is mounted.

[0064] When the analysis unit 100 is that used to analyze the immuneanalysis item, the sample pipetted in the reaction container on thereaction disk 103 is mixed with a reagent for immune reaction. Afterimmune reaction between the sample and the reagent, an analysis item ismeasured through further steps if necessary. In this case, the word“immune reaction” is a synonym for antigen-antibody reaction.

[0065] When the analysis unit 100 is that used to analyze the DNAanalysis item, the sample pippeted in the reaction container on thereaction disk 103, is mixed with a reagent for nucleic acid analysis,after hybridization reaction thereof, a portion combined with a label iscut out with a restriction enzyme, and analysis results of the DNAanalysis items are obtained base on the measurement of the label.

[0066] A feature for obtaining a measured value of an immune analysisitem utilizing an immune reaction between a sample and a reagent is amethod of measuring a label substance utilizing a sold phase such asmagnetic particles produced by an antibody. For example, a substance tobe analyzed in a sample and a solid phase are bound by a immunereaction, and a reagent having a label substance is bound to the firstcomplex, and then the solid phase is separated from liquid phase. Theseparated liquid phase is conducted to a flow cell, and the labelsubstance is measured through fluorescence photometry orchemi-luminescence photometry. Otherwise, the solid phase after liquidseparation is introduced to a photometric position, and a marker boundon the solid phase is measured through a chemi-luminescence method or anelectrochemical luminescence method. An analysis unit control part 101contained in the analysis unit 100 performs control of operation of eachmechanism units in the analysis unit 100 and calculation of measureddata on an analysis item.

[0067] The biochmical analysis unit 200 comprises a pipetting device 202for pipetting a sample using a repetitively used pipette nozzle, as tobe described later. The pipetting device 202 is operated so as to suck asample from a sample bottle on the sample rack, which is positioned at asample pipetting position on the bypass line 62 through the racktransportation line 60, into a portion near the end of the pipettenozzle, hold the sucked sample in the pipette nozzle, and then dischargethe preset amount of the held sample into a reaction container on areaction disk 203. A chemical reaction between the sample and a reagentis progressed in the reaction container, and a optical characteristic ofthe produced reaction solution is measured. In this example, thereaction solution is optically measured in a sate that the reactionsolution is contained in the reaction container to obtain a measuredvalue of a biochemical analysis item. An analysis unit control part 201contained in the analysis unit 200 performs control of operation of eachmechanism units in the analysis unit 200 and calculation of measureddata on an analysis item.

[0068] In the analysis apparatus of FIG. 1, the rack transportationapparatus for transporting the sample rack having samples includes therack transportation line 60, the bypass line 61 for the analysis unit100 and the bypass line 62 for the analysis unit 200. Each of the bypasslines 61, 62 is formed nearly parallel to the rack transportation line60, and receives the sample rack in the upstream side of the bypass linefrom the rack transportation line 60, and the sample rack finishingpipetting of the sample in the downstream side of the bypass line istransfered to the rack transportation line 60. The sample rack on therack transportation line 60 and the bypass line 61, 62 is transported toa preset position by a well-known transporting means in which a beltconveyer or a movable hook is driven by a motor.

[0069] The sample rack 2 having the sample is positioned in at least oneof the plurality of analysis units, and the sample is pipetted from thesample bottle on the sample rack by the corresponding analysis unit, andthen the sample rack is transported to the standby unit 20. A samplerack having possibility of re-examination is let stand by in the standbyunit 20 until the control unit judges necessity of re-measurement. Thesample rack entering into the standby unit 20 is moved along a U-shapedpath. The sample rack having no samples judged to be necessary to bere-measured from the measured results of the corresponding analysis unitis immediately contained in a rack stoker 30. However, the sample rackhaving any samples judged to be necessary to be re-measured from themeasured results of the corresponding analysis unit is transferred fromthe standby unit 20 to the returning line 65, transported to theentrance side of the rack transportation line 60 from the returning line65, transferred to the rack transportation line 60 again and transportedto the analysis unit for the re-measurement to be sampled.

[0070] As described above, the standby unit 20 lets the sample rackfinished sampling of sample in any one out of the plurality of analysisunits temporarily stand by therein, but the sample rack finishedsampling of sample in the analysis unit 100 for the immune analysis itemis specially handled. That is, letting a sample instructed to benecessary for analysis and measurement by the three analysis units 100,200, 300 or by the two analysis units 100, 200 be called as a specifiedsample, and letting a sample rack having the specified sample be calledas a specified sample rack, the specified sample rack is initiallytransported to the analysis unit 100 for the immune analysis item tosample the specified sample by a disposable nozzle tip coupled with thepipetting device 102 in prior to transported to the other analysis unit.The specified sample rack is let enter into the standby unit 20 withoutdropping in at any other analysis unit. Then, when it is judged from ameasured result of the analysis unit 100 in regard to the specifiedsample that execution of the re-measurement to the specified sample isnecessary, the specified sample standing-by at the standby unit 20 istransferred to the rack transportation apparatus 60 through thereturning line 65.

[0071] The specified sample rack to be re-measured is transported to theanalysis unit 100 for the immune analysis item by the racktransportation apparatus without dropping in at any other analysis unitto be sampled the specified sample for the re-measurement. At that time,a new nozzle tip is coupled to the nozzle coupling tube of the pipettingdevice 102. Such operation is performed only in a case where one samplebottle is held on the sample rack. In a case of a plurality of samples,the transporting operation of the sample rack becomes complex because itis necessary to satisfy sampling of all the samples.

[0072] Operations of the rack supply unit 10, the standby unit 20, therack stoker 30, the transportation apparatus including thetransportation line 60 and the returning line 65 are controlled by thetotal system control unit 50. A read result by the bar code reader 16 asan identification information reading unit for the sample rack and thesample bottle is also transmitted to the total system control unit 50.The total system control unit 50 comprises a memory unit 51, andconnected to an operating unit 52 with a key board, a CRT 53 as a screendisplay unit, a printer 54 for output an analysis result of each sample,and a floppy disk memory 55 storing an operating program of the analysisapparatus.

[0073] Since an item to be analyzed to each sample on each sample rackis pre-instructed from the operating unit 52 before starting analysisoperation and stored in the memory unit 51, the total system controlunit 50 compares read information by the bar code reader 16 with thestored analysis item information and can be determine an analysis unitto which each sample rack should be transported based on the comparisonresult.

[0074] In the example of FIG. 1, one set of the analysis unit 100 usedfor analysis measurement of an immune analysis item and one set of theanalysis unit 200 used for analysis measurement of a biochemicalanalysis item are arranged. Two or more sets of these analysis unit foreach may be arranged along the rack transportation line 60.

[0075] An example of the construction of the unit for the immuneanalysis item will be described in detail below, referring to FIG. 2 andFIG. 3. The first analysis unit 100 comprises the pipetting device 102for pipetting a sample, a reaction disk 103 having a constanttemperature maintaining function and capable of rotationally moving themounted reaction containers 105, a rotatable reagent disk 115 on whichreagent bottles 117 are arranged along the circumference combining aplural kinds of reagents for each analysis item, a reagent pipetter 110for pipetting a reagent from the reagent bottle 117 to the reactioncontainer 105 on the reaction disk 103, a sipper mechanism 130 forintroducing a mixed solution of the sample and the reagent formed on thereaction disk 103, an unused reaction container 105 placed in a partsupply area 135 and a carriage mechanism 120 for transporting an unusednozzle tip 125 to a predetermined position by a gripper.

[0076] The pipetting device 102 for sampling a sample has a couplingtube 104 capable of detachably coupling with the disposable nozzle tip125 shown in FIG. 3. The coupling tube 104 is connected to a pump system109 having a sucking and discharging mechanism, and supported to amovable arm 106 movable in the vertical direction and rotatable in thehorizontal direction.

[0077] When analysis operation is started, the transportation mechanism120 grips a disposable unused reaction container 105 placed in the partsupply area 135 by the gripper 128 to transport it to the reaction disk103, and releases gripping at a position 121 to put the reactioncontainer on the reaction disk. Then, the transportation mechanism 120grips the unused nozzle tip 125 placed in the part supply area 135 bythe gripper 128 and releases gripping at a coupling position 107 to putthe nozzle tip on the coupling position.

[0078] The sample rack 2 transported from the rack supply unit 10through rack transportation line 60 is transferred to the bypass line 61of the analysis unit 100, and moved to a sample sampling position 111.The pipetting device 102 positions the movable arm 106 to the couplingposition 107, and moves down the coupling tube 104 to engage the unusednozzle tip 125 with the end of the coupling tube 104 (refer to FIG. 3).Then, the pipetting device 102 rotates the coupling tube 104 to thesampling position, and inserts the end of the nozzle tip 125 up toslightly lower than the liquid surface of the sample in the samplebottle 5 on the sample rack to suck a preset amount of the sample in thenozzle tip 125 and hold it there.

[0079] Since the unused reaction container 102 has been moved from theposition 121 to a discharging position 112, the pipetting device 102discharges the preset amount of the sample held in the nozzle tip 125 tothe reaction container 105 placed at the discharging position 112. Afterthe sampling is repeated necessary times relating to the one sample, thepipetting device 102 moves the coupling tube 104 to a detaching position108 to remove the used nozzle tip 125 from the coupling tube 104. Theremoving operation of the nozzle tip is performed by bringing the upperend surface of the nozzle tip in contact with a lower surface of a splitgroove larger than an outer diameter of the coupling tube 104 andsmaller than an outer diameter of the upper end of the nozzle tip 125,and then moving the coupling tube 104 upward. The removed nozzle tip iscollected in a disposal box. In a case where there are a plurality ofanalysis items to be analyzed by the analysis unit 100 on a sample in asingle sample bottle, one nozzle tip is continuously used for samplingthe samples of these analysis items. After that, the nozzle tip isremoved from the coupling tube 104. By doing so, number of consumednozzle tips can be reduced.

[0080] The reaction container receiving the sample is moved to a reagentreceiving position 113 by the reaction disk 103. The reagent pipetter110 sucks a dispersed solution of fine magnetic particles as a solidphase into the pipette nozzle at a position 118, and discharges thedispersed solution to the reaction container on the reagent receivingposition 113. Thus, a first immune reaction of binding a substance to beanalyzed in the sample, for example, an antigen to the solid phase isstarted. After a predetermined time, a reagent containing a labelsubstance sucked into the pipette nozzle is discharged from the reagentpipetter 110 at the position 119 into the reaction container againpositioned at the reagent receiving position 113. Thus, a second immunereaction of binding the label substance to the substance to be analyzedin the reaction container is started. The pipette nozzle of the reagentpipetter 110 is used by washing every reagent pipetting.

[0081] After that, the reaction container 105 containing the reactionsolution of the immune reaction is positioned at a sucking position 114by the reaction disk 103. The sipper mechanism 130 introduces thereaction solution to a detection unit 140 from the reaction container atthe sucking position 114 through a sucking nozzle. In the detection unit140, the liquid phase containing substance not binding with the magneticparticles flows through while the magnetic particles are being attachedonto the wall surface by a magnet. By doing so, the solid is separatedfrom the liquid phase. The separated liquid phase is conducted to ameasuring unit to measure fluorescence or chemi-luminescence of thelabel substance contained in the liquid phase. Otherwise, the separatingposition and the measuring unit are commonly used, and measurement isperformed by generating chemi-luminescence orelectro-chemical-luminescence from the label substance binding with themagnetic particles through the substance to be analyzed. After that, thesipper mechanism 130 sucks a washing solution from a washing tank 131through the sucking nozzle to wash the flow passage of the detectionunit 140. The used reaction container is removed from the reaction disk103 by the transportation mechanism at the position 121.

[0082] An example of the construction of the analysis unit for thebiochemical analysis item in FIG. 1 will be described below in detail,referring to FIG. 4. The analysis unit 200 for analyzing a biochemicalanalysis item comprises a reaction disk 203 on which transparentreaction containers 205 are concentrically arranged. Water maintained ata preset temperature (for example, 37° C.) is supplied to a constanttemperature bath of the reaction disk 203 from a constant temperaturewater supply unit 230. There are two sets of reagent supply systems, anda reagent selected out of many reagent bottles 217 arranged in the firstreagent disk 215 is pipetted to the reaction container 205 on thereaction disk 203 by a reagent pipetter 210, and a reagent selected outof many reagent bottles 218 arranged in the second reagent disk 216 ispipetted to the reaction container 205 on the reaction disk by a reagentpipetter 211. A mixer 219 mixes a mixture of the sample and the reagentin the reaction container.

[0083] The pipette unit 202 for pipetting a sample comprises a pipettenozzle 225 capable of sucking and discharging liquid, and can positionthe pipette nozzle at a sample pipetting position on the bypass line 62,a sample discharging position 204 on the reaction disk 203 and a probewashing tank 207. The pipette nozzle 225 finishing pipetting a sample onthe sample rack 2 is washed in an outer wall surface and an inner wallsurface of the pipette nozzle with a washing solution in the probewashing tank 207 before pipetting another sample, and repetitively usedfor many samples.

[0084] A reaction solution between the sample and the reagent formed inthe reaction container 205 on the reaction disk 203 is irradiated with alight beam from a multi-wavelength light source 235 in a state ofcontained in the reaction container. The light passed through thereaction container is converted to a spectrum by a multi-wavelengthphotometer 240 to selectively detect a wavelength corresponding to ananalysis item, and the measured light signal is digitized by ananalogue-digital converter 245 and input to an analysis unit controlpart 201 to be calculation processed. The reaction container finishingphotometrical measuring is washed in a container washing unit (notshown) and moved to the sample discharging position so as to receive anew sample.

[0085] In the analysis unit 200 of FIG. 4, the sample rack 2 transferredto the bypass line 62 through the rack transportation line 60 ispositioned at the sample sampling position on the bypass line 62. Thepipetting device 202 inserts the end of the pipette nozzle 225 up toslightly lower than the liquid surface of the sample in the samplebottle 5 at the sample pipetting position and sucks a preset amount ofthe sample in to a portion near the end of the probe and hold it there,and then moves the pipette nozzle 225 to the sample discharging position204 of the row of the reaction containers. After that, the sample heldin the probe is discharged into a washed reactor container placed at thedischarge position 204.

[0086] The reaction container 205 receiving the sample is moved to afirst reagent adding position by the reaction disk 203, and the firstreagent corresponding to the analysis item is pipetted into the reactioncontainer by the reagent pipetter 210. Then, the mixture in the reactioncontainer is mixed by the mixing mechanism 219 to progress the chemicalreaction between the sample and the reagent. In a case of an analysisitem requiring a second reagent, the second reagent is further added tothe reaction container at a second reagent adding position by thereagent pipetter 211. The reaction container containing the reactionsolution is moved so as to cross a light beam of a photometricalposition 241, and an absorbance of the reaction solution is measuredbased on the transmitting light at that time, and a concentration of thesubstance to be measured or an enzyme active value in the sample iscalculated by the analysis unit control part 201 and the measured resultis stored in the memory unit 51 of the total system control unit 50.

[0087] An example of operation of the automatic analysis apparatus inthe embodiment of FIG. 1 will be described below, referring to FIG. 5 toFIG. 7. Before starting analysis operation, analysis items required foreach sample from a patient are input through the operating unit 52. Eachof the sample is usually requested to perform analytical examination ona plurality of analysis items. In the automatic analysis apparatus, ananalysis item having a high necessity to avoid the carry-over is presetand stored in the memory unit 51 of the total system control unit 50.

[0088] When setting of analysis condition is instructed from theoperating unit 52, an analysis condition setting screen 70 is displayedon the CRT 53 as a screen display unit. This screen 70 comprises abutton 71 for invoking a routine operation screen, a button 72 forinvoking a reagent control screen, a button 73 for invoking acalibration screen, a button 74 for invoking an quality control screen,and a button 75 for invoking a utility screen arranged in an uppersection, as shown in FIG. 5. By touching each of the buttons with afinger by a touching panel method, or by clicking each of the buttonswith a pointer by operating a mouse, the corresponding screen isdisplayed in the central portion. FIG. 5 shows an example of invoking acorresponding screen by touching the utility screen invoking button 75.A help button 76 is arranged below the analysis condition setting screen70, and by touching this button 76 an explanation sentence for screenoperation is displayed.

[0089] A button 81 for instructing stopping the analysis apparatus, abutton 82 for instructing stopping sampling operation during analysisoperation, a button 83 for invoking an alarm screen, a button 84 forinvoking a screen showing states of each analysis unit and racktransportation, a button 85 for instructing printing to the printer 54,a button 86 for instructing starting the analysis apparatus are arrangedin an area in the right hand side or the left hand side of the analysiscondition setting screen 70. Each of the above-mentioned buttons isalways displayed when the analysis condition setting screen 70 isdisplayed.

[0090] Here, when the utility screen invoking button 75 is selected,screen invoking buttons for system 151, maintenance 152, application153, calculation item 154, carry-over 155, report 156 and unitconfiguration 157 appear in a display area 150, and a button 161 forinstructing adding, a button 162 for instructing writing of data base toa floppy disk memory, a button 163 for instructing deleting and a button164 for instructing reading from the floppy disk memory appear. When thebutton 153 for invoking an application screen is selected in this state,a table of list 170 showing a plurality of analysis items and samplekinds appears, and detailed screen invoking buttons 171 to 174 appear.

[0091] When the analysis button 171 out of the detailed screen invokingbuttons is further selected, a screen shown in FIG. 5 appears in adisplay area 180. That is, a section 181 for setting an amount ofsample, a section 182 for setting an amount of pipetted reagent, a levelsetting section 183 for setting a carry-over avoiding level and a button184 for instructing storing are displayed.

[0092] In the analysis items displayed in the table of list 170 in thescreen of FIG. 5, TSH means thyrotropin, T4 means thyroxine, TF4 meansfree thyroxine, CEA means carcinoembryonic antigen, HCG means humanchorionic gonadotropin, TNT means troponin T, HBSAg means hepatitis Bsurface antigen, and a-HBs means hepatitis B surface antibody. All ofthese are immune analysis items.

[0093] Here, it is assumed that HBsAg out of the analysis items in thetable of list 170 is selected, and 30 μl of sampling amount of sample isinput to the sample amount setting section 181, and 70 μl of addingamount of the first reagent R1, 60 μl of adding amount of the secondreagent R2 and 40 μl of adding amount of beads reagent are input to thereagent pipette amount setting section 182. It is also assumed that inthe carry-over avoiding level setting section 183, a level “High” isselected between “High” and “Low”. The level selection of high and lowcan be performed using a level selection button 187. Then, when thestoring instruction button 184 is selected, the sample amount and thereagent pipetting amounts in regard to the analysis item of HBsAg andthe avoiding level of carry-over between samples corresponding to theanalysis item are instructed, and stored in the memory unit 51.

[0094] Then, by selecting another analysis item displayed in the tableof list 170 and similarly setting a sample volume, a reagent pipettingvolume and a carry-over avoiding level corresponding to the item, theseconditions can be successively set. On the other hand, by constructingso that a plurality of analysis items are selected and a commoncarry-over avoiding level may be instructed, the carry-over avoidinglevel can be instructed to the plurality of analysis items at once.

[0095] The level “High” in the carry-over avoiding level setting section183 is for performing sample sampling under a condition of no carry-overbetween samples and, in more detail, the total system control unit 50controls a transporting destination of a corresponding sample rack so asto perform sampling of the sample by a pipetting device using thedisposable nozzle tip to be exchanged by a new one for each sample. In acase where the “High” level is instructed on a specified analysis item,the memory unit 51 stores the specified analysis item requiringpipetting using a disposable nozzle tip. On the other hand, the level“Low” is an instruction that sampling of the sample may be performed bya pipetting device having the pipette nozzle repetitively used for manysamples by washing it, and an analysis item corresponding to this casecan be analyzed in the analysis unit 200 and/or the analysis unit 300 inFIG. 1.

[0096] The analysis condition set through the setting screen as shown inFIG. 5 is continuously used corresponding to each analysis item unlessthe condition is changed after that. Therefore, when an examination of apatient sample is requested, the analysis condition set in FIG. 5 isautomatically applied if an analysis item to be described later isinput.

[0097] In this way, in the analysis apparatus shown in FIG. 1, a specialmethod to avoid the carry-over between the samples, is needed, that is,when the analysis item is indicated as being in a level of “high”, anindicated information thereof as being in a level of “high” is stored ina memory device. After that, when the same analysis item with that whichis already indicated in order to set a new analysis condition, isselected by referring the analysis condition setting screen 70, thestored information, that is, the information having a necessity to avoidthe carry-over operates so as to be output on the display device. In thecase shown by FIG. 5, when the analysis item is selected, information“high” is displayed on the level setting section.

[0098] An operator work at starting routine analysis work will bedescribed below. By selecting the button 71 for invoking a routineoperating screen in the analysis condition setting screen 70, an itemselecting screen as shown in FIG. 6 is displayed in the large displayarea 150 on the CRT 53. A section 251 for selecting a sample kind, asection 252 for inputting a sample number, a section 253 for inputting apatient identification number, a section 254 for selecting a kind ofsample cup, an area 255 for selecting an analysis item, a button 256 forinstructing a preceding sample, a button 257 for instructing a followingsample and a button 258 for instructing registering are displayed inthis screen. The analysis item selecting area 255 among these has areservation registering function of 5-page capacity, and each of thepages has 24 item inputting sections or analysis item selectingsections. When the preceding sample instructing button 256 is selected,analysis item information on a sample preceding a sample displayed atpresent by one is displayed instead of the contents displayed atpresent. When the following sample instructing button 257 is selected,analysis item information on a sample following a sample displayed atpresent by one is displayed.

[0099] Therein, the screen of FIG. 6 shows analysis items selected bythe first page of the analysis item selecting area 255. In the displayedanalysis items, AST means asparatate aminotransferase, ATL means alanineaminotransferase, IP means inorganic phosphorus, TP means total protein,Alb means albmin, LD means lactate dehydrogenase, UA means uric acid,CRE means creatinine, Na means sodium ion, and K means potassium ion.

[0100]FIG. 6 is an example of selecting 10 items of biochemical analysisitems to be analyzed in the first page in regard to a blood serum sampleof sample number 1. FIG. 7 is an example of selecting 7 items of immuneanalysis items to be analyzed in the second page in regard to the bloodserum sample of the same sample number. By selecting the registrationinstructing button 258 after finishing inputting all the analysis itemsrequested to examine on the single sample, analysis measurement of theplurality of analysis items on the sample is reserved and stored in thememory unit 51. Since the screen of the display area 150 is updated bythis registering operation, analysis item selection on a sample of thenext sample number can be performed. Thus, the operator can successivelyperform analysis item selecting work on all the requested samples. Inthe example of FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, 17 analysis items on the sample ofsample number 1 are registered as a result.

[0101] By selecting the reagent control screen invoking button 72 of theanalysis condition setting screen, the screen for setting analysis itemsto be analyzed and measured to each of the analysis units in theanalysis apparatus of FIG. 1 is displayed. Such allocation of analysisitems to each of the analysis units is performed in prior to theinputting work of requested analysis items for each sample as shown inFIG. 6. When a process of which analysis item is allocated to whichanalysis units, the carry-over avoiding level between samples set inFIG. 5 is reflected. That is, an analysis item of “High” level isallocated to the analysis unit 100 having the pipetting device using thedisposable nozzle tip.

[0102] On the other hand, when items to be analyzed are instructed foreach sample in routine work, the relationship between analysis item andcarry-over avoiding level and the analysis items allocated to eachanalysis unit are already registered in the control unit of theautomatic analysis apparatus. Therefore the control unit checks arequested analysis item, for example, on a sample of sample number 1,and judges which analysis unit among the plurality of analysis units thesample is analyzed in. For example, since the sample of sample number 1is relates to the analysis unit 300 in its electrolytic component, tothe analysis unit 100 in its immune analysis item and to the analysisunit 200 in its biochemical analysis item, in the example of theconstruction of FIG. 1 the sample is analyzed in all the analysis units.

[0103] In the cases that the analysis conditions for the respectiveanalysis items are set by using the screens shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, thescreen which is used to select the analysis item to be set the analysiscondition, is displayed on the display device, and the indication fieldto be able to indicate the necessity to avoid affection of thecarry-over between the samples corresponding to the analysis itemselected on the screen, is displayed on the display device.

[0104] After that, when the samples to be analyzed the analysis itemswhich is indicated the necessity to avoid the carry-over and which isnot indicated the necessity to avoid the carry-over through the displaydevice, are sampled in the analysis part such as the analysis units 100,200, 300 etc., the sampling of the sample relating to the analysis itemnot indicated the necessity is executed after the sampling of the samplerelating to the analysis item indicated the necessity is executed.

[0105] An example of handling a sample in the automatic analysisapparatus of FIG. 1 will be described below. For the purpose ofconvenience, it is assumed that a single sample analyzed on anelectrolytic substance analysis item and a biochemical analysis item isheld on the first sample rack firstly supplied from the rack supply unit10 to the rack transportation line 60, and a single sample analyzed onan electrolytic substance analysis item, a an immune analysis item and abiochemical analysis item is held on the second sample rack secondarilysupplied. In a case where a plurality of samples are held on a singlesample rack, the transportation rout of the sample rack is determined sothat sample sampling of analysis items relating to all the samples isperformed.

[0106] The first sample rack pushed out from the rack supply unit 10 tothe transportation apparatus side is positioned at the reading positionof the identification reading unit 15, and the bar code label of sampleinformation attached to the sample bottle is read by the bar code reader16. The total system control unit 50 determines analysis unit at whichthe first sample rack should drop in by comparing the read informationwith analysis information instructed to the samples, and recognizingbased on the compared result that there is no specified analysis itemrequiring sampling by the nozzle tip, and recognizing requested analysisitems corresponding to analysis items allocated to each of the analysisunits.

[0107] Since the first sample rack has no samples requiring analysis bythe analysis unit 100 for the immune analysis item, the total systemcontrol unit determines that the first sample rack is transported so asto drop in at the analysis unit 300 for the electrolytic analysis itemplaced in the position near the rack supply unit 10, and then drop in atthe analysis unit 200 for the biochemical analysis item. That is, thesample racks in this case, are transported to the plurality of theanalysis units according to the arranging order thereof and depending onthe necessity. Both of the second analysis unit 200 and the thirdanalysis unit 300 are analysis units having the pipetting device usingthe repetitively used pipette nozzle.

[0108] The first sample rack of which the identification information hasbeen read is moved to the sample sampling position of the analysis unit300 for the electrolytic analysis item, and the pipetting device 302sucks a part of the sample on the sample rack and discharge it to thediluting container 305 as a receiving container. The first sample rackfinishing sample sampling at the analysis apparatus 300 is transportedto the analysis unit 200 for the biochemical analysis item withoutdropping in at the analysis unit for the immune analysis item.

[0109] The first sample rack is once stopped at the entrance of thebypass line 62 and then transferred to the bypass line 62, andpositioned at the sample sampling position on the bypass line 62. Thepipetting device 202 repeats operation of pipetting the sample in thesample bottle on the first sample rack to a plurality of reactioncontainers 205 number of which is corresponds to number of items to beanalyzed. After finishing sample sampling for a predetermined number ofanalysis items, the first sample rack is transferred to the racktransportation line 60, and then transported to the standby unit 20.

[0110] If the control unit judges that the analysis result by each ofthe analysis apparatus does not require any re-measurement, the firstsample rack goes out of the standby unit 20 and is stored in the rackstoker 30. If the control unit judges that the analysis results by theanalysis unit requires re-measurement on one or more analysis items, thefirst sample rack on standby in the standby unit 20 is transferred tothe returning line 65 to transported to the entrance side of the racktransportation line 60, and then transported to the analysis unit 200again by the transportation line 60. After plural times of samplesampling corresponding to number of analysis items for re-measurement,the first sample rack is stored in the rack stoker 30 through thetransportation line 60. The analysis results in regard to the sample onthe first sample rack by the units 200, 300 may be output to the CRT 53and the printer 54.

[0111] While the first sample rack is under processing, the secondsample rack may be supplied from the rack supply unit 10 to the entranceside of the rack transportation apparatus. The second sample rack ismoved to the reading position of the identification reading unit 15, andthe sample information expressed by the bar code on the outer wall ofthe sample bottle is read by the bar code reader 16. The control unitdetermines analysis unit at which the second sample rack should drop inby checking the analysis condition set information and the instructedinformation input or selected by the operating unit 52 and the readinformation in regard to the sample on the second sample rack. Since thebody liquid sample held on the second sample rack is instructed so as tobe analyzed on an electrolytic analysis item, an immune analysis itemand a biochemical analysis item, it is determined that the second samplerack drops in the analysis units 100, 200 and 300 in the constructionexample of FIG. 1.

[0112] In this case, the control unit recognizes that the specifiedanalysis item requiring pipetting by the disposable nozzle tip isincluded among the plurality of analysis items instructed to performanalysis, and determines that the second sample rack is transportedfirstly to the analysis unit 100 which can perform such pipetting. Basedon the determination, the control unit controls operation of the racktransportation apparatus so that the second rack is transported to theanalysis unit 100 in prior to transporting to the other analysis units.An analysis item allocated to the first analysis unit is not limited toan immune analysis item, but an analysis item set to “High” in thecarry-over avoiding level between samples as shown in FIG. 5 may beallocated to the analysis unit 100 even if it is a biochemical analysisitem.

[0113] Based on the above-mentioned determination of the transportationorder, the second sample rack in the identification reading unit 15 istransported to the bypass line 61 corresponding to the analysis unit 100arranged in the second order through the rack transportation line 60without dropping in at the analysis unit 300 which is the closest to therack supply unit, and positioned at the sample sampling position on thebypass line 61. The pipetting device 102 couples the unused disposablenozzle tip 125 with the coupling tube 104, and repeats operation ofpipetting the sample in the sample bottle on the second sample rack to aplurality of reaction containers 105 number of which is corresponds tonumber of items to be analyzed. The second sample rack after finishingsampling is transferred from the bypass line 61 to the racktransportation line 60, and then transported to the standby unit 20without dropping the analysis unit 200 arranged in the third order.

[0114] While the second sample rack is temporally standing by at thestandby unit 20, analysis measured results of the sample by the analysisunit 100 can be obtained. Based on the analysis measured results by theanalysis unit 100, the control unit judges necessity of re-measurementon each of the measured analysis items is necessary. If the judgedresult is that re-measurement is unnecessary to any analysis items, thesecond sample rack on standby in the standby unit 20 is transferred tothe returning line 65, and transported to the entrance side of the racktransportation line 60 by the returning line 65. Then, the second samplerack drops in at the analysis unit 300 for the electrolytic analysisitem, and the pipetting device 302 pipettes the specified sample usingthe pipette nozzle. After that, the second sample rack is transported tothe analysis unit 200 arranged in the third order without dropping in atthe analysis unit 100, and positioned at the sample sampling position onthe bypass line 62, and the pipetting device 202 pipettes the specifiedsample using the pipette nozzle 225.

[0115] The second sample rack finishing pipetting in the analysis unit300 and the analysis unit 200 is transported to the standby unit 20 totemporally stand by at there. Then, necessity of re-measurement isjudged based on the analysis measured results by the analysis units 200and/or the analysis units 300. If re-measurement is unnecessary, thesecond sample rack is stored in the rack stoker 30. If re-measurement isnecessary, the second sample rack is transported to the third analysisunit 300 and/or the second analysis unit 200 again to be sampled for there-measurement. After that, the second sample rack is transported to andstored in the rack stoker 30.

[0116] On the other hand, when based on the analysis measured result bythe analysis unit 100 for the immune analysis item, it is judged thatre-measurement on any of the analysis items is necessary, the controlunit transports the second sample rack as follows. That is, The secondsample rack holding a specified sample is transferred from the standbyunit 20 to the returning line 65, and transported to the entrance sideof the rack transportation line 60 by the returning line 65, and thentransferred to the rack transportation line. The rack transportationline 60 transports the second sample rack to the bypass line 61corresponding to the analysis unit 100 without dropping in at theanalysis unit 300. At this time point, sample sampling of the secondsample rack is not performed by the other analysis units 200 and 300yet.

[0117] The pipetting device 102 of the analysis unit 100 pipettes thespecified sample on the second sample rack positioned at the samplesampling position on the bypass line to the reaction container 105 onthe reaction disk 103 using a new disposable nozzle tip in order tomeasure the analysis item which is judged that re-measurement isnecessary.

[0118] The second sample rack finishing sample sampling forre-measurement is once transferred to the rack transportation line 60,and immediately transported to bypass line 62 corresponding to theanalysis unit 200. Then, the first sample sampling of the second samplerack by the pipette nozzle 225 of the pipetting device 202 is performed.The second sample rack finishing sample sampling in regard to thespecified sample is transferred to the returning line 65 through therack transportation line 60, and then transferred to the racktransportation line 60 to be transported to the third analysis unit 300.After that, the first sample sampling in regard to the specified sampleby the pipette nozzle of the pipetting device 302 is performed.

[0119] Otherwise, it is possible to control so that when sample samplingfor re-measurement in regard to the analysis unit 100 is finished, thesecond sample rack is transferred to the rack transportation line 60,successively transferred to the returning line 65, transported from theentrance side of the rack transportation line 60, and sample sampling isperformed in the analysis unit 300 and then in the analysis unit 200 inregard to the specified samples, respectively. In any case, the secondsample rack finishing sample sampling in the analysis units 200 and 300is transported to the standby unit 20 to temporally stand by at thereuntil the judgment on necessity of the re-measurement is output. Thetransporting operation in regard to the second sample rack afterjudgment on necessity of the re-measurement is the same as thatdescribed above.

[0120] Depending on a patient sample, there is a case where analysis byonly one analysis unit out of the three analysis units shown in FIG. 1,analyses by the two analysis units for the immune analysis item and thebiochemical analysis item, or analysis by the two analysis units for theimmune analysis item and the electrolyte analysis item is performed. Ina case where a sample is analyzed by the analysis unit 100 and theanalysis unit 200 or 300, the system is constructed so that the sampleis initially sampled in the analysis unit 100, then the sample samplingfor re-measurement is performed in the analysis unit 100, and thensampling operation of the sample in the same sample bottle is performedin the other analysis unit 200 or 300.

[0121] As described above, in the embodiment of the apparatus of FIG. 1,since sample sampling is performed in the analysis unit having thepipetting device using the disposable nozzle tip and then samplesampling is performed in the analysis unit having the pipetting deviceusing the repetitively used pipette nozzle by washing, an analysis itemwhich must strictly avoid an effect of carry-over between samples can beanalyzed with keeping high reliability. Further, since an analysis itemwhich is not so strongly affected by an effect of carry-over betweensamples is sampled by the pipetting device using the repetitively usedpipette nozzle, the total processing capacity of the analysis apparatusis not reduced so much. Because number of analysis items using thepipette nozzle is much larger than number of items necessary to use thedisposable nozzle tip.

[0122] Another embodiment of the construction of an analysis apparatusin accordance with the present invention will be described below,referring to FIG. 8. The automatic analysis apparatus for analyzing bodyfluid samples of FIG. 8 comprises a sample bottle transportationapparatus 800, a first analysis unit 810 for analyzing the immuneanalysis item and a second analysis unit 820 for analyzing thebiochemical analysis item. The sample bottle transportation apparatus800 has a rotatable sample disk 801 capable of holding many samplebottles 802 in circular shape.

[0123] A first pipetting device 830 is a pipetting device using adisposable nozzle tip by exchanging it for each sample. A secondpipetting device 840 is a pipetting device using a repetitively usedpipette nozzle by washing. The first analysis unit 810 has a reactioncontainer exchange apparatus 813 for exchanging a used reactioncontainer with a unused reaction container and capable of exchangeablyarranging many reaction containers 812 on a reaction disk 811. Anecessary reagent corresponding to an immune analysis item is pipettedfrom a reagent supply unit 816 into the reaction container 812 on thereaction disk 811.

[0124] The first pipetting device 830 can couples the unused disposablenozzle tip to a tip coupling tube on a tip supplier 814. The used nozzletip is removed from the coupling tube to be disposed to a disposal box815. The first analysis unit 810 has a measuring unit 815 for measuringa reaction solution or a solid phase after immune reaction. A reactiondisk 821 in the second analysis unit 820 has a row of transparentreaction containers 822. A necessary reagent corresponding to abiochemical analysis item is pipetted from a reagent supplier 826 tothese reaction containers 822. The second analysis unit 820 has ameasuring unit for measuring an optical characteristic of a reactionsolution after chemical reaction.

[0125] In the automatic analysis apparatus of FIG. 8, it is assumed thata specified sample requiring to be analyzed on both of an immuneanalysis item and a biochemical analysis item is contained in onespecified sample bottle 802. When analysis is started for such aspecified sample, the corresponding specified sample bottle ispositioned at a sample sampling position by the sample disk 801. Then,the first pipetting device 830 coupled with the unused nozzle tip sucksa part of the specified sample into the nozzle tip and discharges itinto the reaction container 812 on the reaction disk 811. An immunereaction between the sample and the reagent is progressed in thereaction container, and then an immune analysis item to be analyzed ismeasured.

[0126] The automatic analysis apparatus is programmed so that afterfinishing sample sampling to the above-mentioned specified sample bottleusing the first pipetting device, the same sample bottle is positionedat a sample sampling Position b, and sample sampling using the secondpipetting device 840 is performed. The specified sample pipetted to thereaction container 822 on the reaction disk 821 by the pipette nozzle ofthe second pipetting device is chemically reacted with the reagent inthe reaction container, and the biochemical analysis item is measuredbased on photometrical measurement of the produced reaction solution.

[0127] Both of a biochemical analysis item and an immune analysis itemcan be also measured by the embodiment of FIG. 8, and the analysismeasured value of the immune analysis item is not affected by the effectof carry-over between samples.

[0128] In a case of measuring a biochemical analysis item and an immuneanalysis item, the pipetting device using the disposable nozzle tip andthe pipetting device using the repetitively used pipette nozzle areapplied to a single sample bottle, and pipetting operation by thedisposable nozzle tip is performed in prior to using the pipette nozzle.By doing so, the carry-over between samples caused by the pipette nozzleis avoided relating to the analysis item which should be extremelyavoided, and the pipette nozzle used commonly can be used for samplingthe sample relating to the biochemical analysis item.

[0129] Furthermore, the functions as shown in FIGS. 5 to 7 are performedin the embodiment shown in FIG. 8. In this case, the sampling processingeffect becomes lower than that of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1. Thecontrol part controls respective mechanism of the analysis apparatus. Inthe analysis apparatus shown in FIG. 8, when the re-measurement isdirected to be executed according to the measurement effect of thesample by the immune analysis unit 810, it is controlled that thesampling of the same sample is not performed by the second pipettingdevice 840 at the sampling position b until the first measurement resultis obtained relating to the specified sample at the position a.

[0130] When the re-measurement is judged to need to be done, thecorresponding specified sample is returned to the sampling position a bythe sample disk 801, is sampled again by the first pipetting device 830,and is analyzed again by the immune analysis unit 810.

[0131] After this second time sampling, the corresponding sample ismoved to the sampling position b, and is sampled by the second pipettingdevice 840.

[0132]FIG. 9 shows an outline of a configuration of the third embodimentbased on the present invention. The same functions of the elements inthis embodiment as that in the former embodiment are shown by attachingthe same reference numerals.

[0133] In FIG. 9, the analysis units 100A, 100B for measuring the immuneanalysis item and the analysis units 200A, 200B for measuring thebiochemical analysis item are arranged along the rack transportationline 60. These analysis units are connected to be able to bedisconnected to the rack transportation line 60.

[0134] The sample rack 2 supplied from the rack supply unit 10 canselectively drop in at the necessary analysis unit through the bypasslines 61A, 61B, 62A, 62B attached on the respective analysis units. Therespective analysis units build in respective computers 101A, 101B,201A, 201B as the analysis unit control parts.

[0135] The computer 11 built in the rack supply unit 10 performsnecessary control of the rack supply unit 10, the rack transportationline 60, the returning line 65, and the rack stoker 30. The computer 21built in the standby unit 20 performs necessary control in the standbyunit 20. These computer and the bar code reader 16 are connected tocomputer 50 as the integrated controller. The computer 50 gives thenecessary information to the computer 11 and the computer of theanalysis unit which is planed to be dropped in by reading out the sampleID and the rack ID.

[0136] When the sample held by the sample rack is a sample which isspecified to perform automatic re-examination and has an immune analysisitem specified to perform automatic re-examination, after finishing thesampling for immune analysis, the sample rack is transported to thestandby unit 20 by the transportation line 3 to be temporarily let standby. During that period, the computer 50 judges based on a presetalgorithm or logic whether or not re-examination is necessary. If thejudged result is that the re-examination is necessary, the sample rackis returned to the entrance side of the rack transportation line 60 bythe returning line 65. The sample rack is further transported to thesuitable analysis unit by the rack transportation line 60, and thesample held by the sample rack is re-sampled and re-examined, that is,the immune analysis is performed on the sample again. After finishingsampling of the sample for the re-examination of immune analysis in theanalysis unit, the sample rack is transported to the biochemicalanalysis unit and the sample is sampled to perform biochemical analysis.Then, the sample rack is transported to the rack stoker 30 by the racktransportation line 60 to be collected there without dropping in at theother analysis unit nor the standby unit 20 when the sample held by thesample rack is not specified to perform re-examination.

[0137] The analysis units 100A, 100B have the same construction withthat of the analysis unit 100 shown in FIG. 1, and the analysis units200A, 200B have the same construction with that of the analysis unit 200shown in FIG. 1.

[0138]FIG. 10 is a flow chart of the system operation of an automaticanalysis apparatus in accordance with the present invention. An operatorinitially sets reagents at preset positions in each analysis unit, andinformation which analysis unit each reagent exists in and whichanalysis item each reagent is to be used for is stored and registered ina memory unit in the computer 50 (S401). The registration may beperformed by operating the operating unit 18 by the operator, or byautomatically reading a-reagent ID having each of the reagent bottles217, 218.

[0139] Next, the operator operates the operating unit 52 to specifywhether or not the automatic re-examination logic function is put inaction and which re-examination logic is put in action if re-examinationlogic is put in action (S402). This is for automatically performingre-examination only on an analysis item which really requiresre-examination, and largely contributes to suppress decrease inprocessing capacity of the whole apparatus. In detail, the automaticre-examination logic is a logic showing, for example, the followingconditions. The conditions are pre-stored and pre-registered in thememory unit 51 of the computer 50, and the operator can select one bydesignating any one condition, and the designation of the re-examinationof the corresponding analysis item can be cancelled. The automaticre-examination logic is selected through the screen of the CRT 53.

[0140] (1) The automatic re-measurement is always performed without anycondition.

[0141] (2) The automatic re-measurement is performed when an analysisresult departs from an analysis (measurement) range preset for eachanalysis item. For example, in regard to TSH (thyrotropin:thyroid-stimulating hormone), when a first analysis result is above 0.27IU/ml, but departs from a condition below 4.2 IU/ml, the re-measurementis performed.

[0142] (3) The automatic re-measurement is performed when a differencebetween an analysis value in this time and an analysis value in thepreceding time(or an analysis value before the preceding time) onsamples from a single person exceeds a preset limit value (for example,when the analysis value in this time differs from the analysis value inthe preceding time by 50% or more).

[0143] After that, the operator operates the operating unit 52 tospecify an analysis (measurement) channel using algorithm when there-examination is performed relating to the analysis item (S403). Indetail, the analysis channel using algorithm is a algorithm showing, forexample, the following conditions. The conditions are pre-stored andpre-registered in the memory part 51 of the computer 50, and theoperator can be specify and select one condition. The one analysischannel means a combination of one reaction line and one sensor.

[0144] (1) The same analysis (measurement) channel as an analysischannel used for the analysis (measurement) in the time before there-examination is used.

[0145] (2) An analysis channel different from an analysis channel usedfor the analysis in the time before the re-examination is used. Thiscondition is effective when the analysis channel used in the time beforethe re-examination is abnormal.

[0146] (3) A plurality of analysis channels including the same analysischannel used for the analysis in the time before the re-examination areused. This condition is effective when a highly reliable analysis resultis attempted to be obtained.

[0147] (4) A plurality of analysis channels excluding the same analysischannel used for the analysis in the time before the re-examination areused. This condition is effective when the analysis channel used in thetime before the re-examination is abnormal and a highly reliableanalysis result is attempted to be obtained.

[0148] Although each of the analysis units in the FIG. 1 and FIG. 9 hasonly one analysis (measuring) channel, each of the analysis units mayhave a plurality of analysis channels. The plurality of analysischannels in the above items (3) and (4) may have a plurality of analysischannels in one analysis unit, or may have a plurality of analysischannels extending over a plurality of analysis units within a sameimmune analysis.

[0149] The automatic re-examination logic information and the analysischannel using algorithm may be stored and registered not in the memorypart 51 in the computer 50 but in a memory unit 55 provided in theexternal.

[0150] Then, after the registration, the operator loading the samplerack to the sample rack loading unit 1, and operates the operating unit52 to register to the computer 50 which sample is analyzed on whichanalysis item, that is, register analysis item request (S404).Successively, the operator operates the operating unit 52 to specify foreach sample whether or not the automatic re-examination logic describedabove is executed by using the screen of the CRT 53 (S405). This iseffective for a small amount of an important sample in that theunnecessary consumption of the important sample can be prevented byomitting the automatic re-examination. After finishing theabove-mentioned operations by the operator, analysis operation isstarted (S406), and a result of the analysis is output (S407), and thusthe analysis is completed (S408).

[0151]FIGS. 11A and 11B are flow-charts of sample rack transportationprocessing in accordance with the present invention. A sample rack isloaded in the rack supply unit 10 (S501). When the loaded sample rack istransported to the rack transportation line 60 (S502), the sample ID andthe rack ID are read by the ID reading unit 16 (S503) and theinformation is transmitted to the computer 50.

[0152] The computer 50 judges whether or not there is a sample requestedto analyze on an immune analysis item on the rack (S504). If the resultis “YES”, the sample rack is transported to a specified immune analysisunit by the rack transportation line 60 based on a command from thecomputer 50 to the computer 11 (S505). The sample sampling is performedbased on a command from the computer 50 to the computer of the immuneanalysis unit, and immune analysis is performed on the immune analysisitem (S506).

[0153] After finishing the sampling, the computer 50 judges whether ornot the sampled sample is a sample specified automatic re-examination inStep S405 of FIG. 10 (S507). If the result is “YES”, the computer 11judges whether or not the immune analysis item specified in Step S405 ofFIG. 10 to perform automatic re-examination is included in the sample(S508). If the result is “YES”, the rack is transported to the samplerack standby unit 9 by the rack transportation line 60 based on acommand from the computer 50 to the computer 11 (S509) and the rackstands by there until the analysis result is output (S510).

[0154] After outputting the result of the above analysis, the computer50 judges based on the re-examination logic specified in Step S402 ofFIG. 10 whether or not re-examination is necessary (S511). If the resultis “YES”, the sample rack is transported to an specified immune analysisunit by the returning line 65 and the rack transportation line 60according to the selected analysis channel using algorithm based on acommand from the computer 50 to the computer 11 (S512). Pipetting isperformed based on a command from the computer 50 to the computer of theanalysis unit (S513), and thus, the immune analysis is completed (S514).

[0155] If the judged result in Step S507, S508 or S511 is “NO”, the flowproceeds to Step S514.

[0156] After finishing Step S514 or if the judged result in Step s504 is“NO”, Steps S515 to S525 of biochemical analysis corresponding to StepsS504 to S514 of immune analysis are similarly performed, respectively.After finishing the analysis or when the analysis is necessary, thesample rack is collected to the rack stoker 30 (S526).

[0157]FIG. 12 shows an example of a partial arrangement of anotherembodiment of an automatic analysis apparatus in accordance with thepresent invention. This embodiment is different from the embodiment ofFIGS. 1 and 9 in the point that each analysis unit does not have anysiding(by-pass line) as shown in FIGS. 1 and 9. Therefore, in thisembodiment, the sample rack is kept on the rack transportation line 60even during sample sampling.

[0158] In the analysis apparatus shown in FIG. 12, at respective lowerflow side of the analysis units 100 a, 100B, 200A, 200B, the standbyunits 20A, 20B, 20C, 20D are arranged corresponding to the respectiveanalysis units. The movement of the sample rack transmitted to thestandby units is little different from that of the example shown in FIG.1 or 9.

[0159] For example, in a case that the re-measurement by the sameanalysis unit is needed relating to the sample rack in the standby unit20B attached to the analysis unit 100B, the sample rack is moved fromthe standby unit 20B to the returning line 65, and is moved to the racktransportation line 60 near the entrance of the standby unit 20A, andagain stops at the sample sampling position of the analysis unit 100B(upper the transportation line 60) so as to be sampled.

[0160] If the sample on the sample rack in the standby unit 20B does notneed to be re-measured, the sample rack is moved from the standby unit20B to the rack transportation line 60, and is transferred to the samplesampling position of the biochemical analysis unit 200A, for example. Inthis case, the sample rack does not passes by the returning line 65.

What is claimed is:
 1. An analysis apparatus comprising a first analysisunit for sampling a sample using a disposable nozzle tip, a secondanalysis unit for sampling the sample using a repetitively used pipettenozzle, a transportation means for transporting a specified sample torespective sampling position of said first and said second analysisunit, said specified sample being analyzed in said first and said secondanalysis units, and a controller for controlling said transportationmeans so that said specified sample is moved to said sampling positionof said first analysis unit before said specified sample is sampled atsaid second analysis unit, and said specified sample is moved to saidsampling position of said second analysis unit after said specifiedsample is sampled at the sampling position at said first analysis unit.2. An analysis apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein characterized byfurther comprising a standby part for letting a sample stand by, saidsample being already sampled at the first analysis unit and not beingsampled at the second analysis unit yet, wherein when measurement resultof the specified sample obtained at said first analysis unit needsre-measurement of the specified sample, said controller transports saidspecified sample from said standby part to said sampling position ofsaid first analysis unit in order to re-measure said specified sample,before moving said specified sample to said sampling position of saidsecond analysis unit.
 3. An analysis apparatus as defined in claim 2,wherein characterized by further comprising a storage means for storinga re-measurement logic for judging whether said re-measurement of thespecified sample is needed, and a selection means for automaticallyselecting whether to execute said re-measurement logic relating toanalysis item of said specified sample.
 4. An analysis apparatus asdefined in claim 3, wherein characterized in that said re-measurementlogic judges contains conditions always to be executed, to be executedif being apart from a measurement range, and to be executed depending ondifference between present measured value and former measured value ofthe specified sample of the same subject.
 5. An analysis apparatus asdefined in claim 3, wherein characterized by further comprising astorage means for storing a algorism for using a analysis channel forsaid re-measurement relating to the specified sample which is judged toneed said re-measurement while said sample stands by part at saidstandby part, and a selection means for selecting whether to use thesame analysis channel as that used before said re-measurement relatingto said analysis item of said specified sample.
 6. An analysis apparatusas defined in claim 5, wherein characterized in that said algorismstored in said storage means contains conditions to use said sameanalysis channel as that used before said re-measurement, and to use adifferent analysis channel as that used before said re-measurement. 7.An analysis apparatus according to claim 1, wherein characterized inthat said first analysis unit measures a label substance after an immunereaction between a substance to be analyzed and the label substance, andsaid second analysis unit measures an optical characteristic of areaction solution produced by a chemical reaction between the sample anda reagent.
 8. An analysis apparatus for sampling a sample from a singlesample bottle to a plurality of receiving containers by using aplurality of sample pipetting devices, and for analyzing the each samplereceived in each of the receiving containers, wherein characterized bycomprising first pipetting device using a disposable nozzle tip andsecond pipetting device using a repetitively used pipette nozzleincluded in said plurality of sample pipetting devices, and a controlpart for controlling sampling movement of said first and secondpipetting devices, wherein said control part controls said secondpipetting device so as to sample the sample from a same sample bottleafter said first pipetting devices samples said sample from the samesample bottle.
 9. An analysis apparatus comprising a rack introducingunit for introducing a sample rack having a sample, a plurality ofanalysis units for analysis-processing the sample, and a racktransporting apparatus for transporting the sample rack coming out fromsaid rack introducing unit to at least one of said plurality of analysisunits, wherein characterized by further by further comprising a firstanalysis unit having a first pipetting device using a disposable nozzletip and a second analysis unit having a second pipetting device using arepetitively used pipette nozzle are included in said plurality ofanalysis units, a storage means for storing a specified analysis itemnecessary for sample sampling by said nozzle tip, wherein said samplerack having a sample to be analyzed on said specified analysis item istransported to said first analysis unit before being transported to theother analysis apparatus, and is executed sample sampling for saidspecified analysis item using said nozzle tip.
 10. An analysis apparatusas defined in claim 9, wherein characterized by further comprising adisplay unit for display a screen for specifying said specified analysisitem, and a control unit for recognizing a sample including saidspecified analysis item among a plurality of analysis items instructedto be analyzed and controlling said rack transporting apparatus so thata sample rack having said recognized sample is transported to said firstanalysis unit in the first place of sample sampling processing.
 11. Ananalysis apparatus as defined in claim 10, wherein characterized in thatsaid screen displayed by said display unit comprises an analysis itemselecting section capable of selecting one or more analysis items out ofa plurality of analysis items, and a level instructing section capableof instructing a carry-over avoiding level corresponding to the selectedanalysis item.
 12. An analysis apparatus as defined in claim 9, whereincharacterized in that said plurality of analysis units are arrangedalong a transporting path of said rack transporting apparatus, and asample rack having samples not requiring analysis of said specifiedanalysis item is transported so as to be let drop in at said pluralityof analysis units in arranging order depending on necessity.
 13. Ananalysis apparatus comprising a rack transporting apparatus fortransporting the sample rack having a sample, a rack supply unit forsupplying said rack to said rack transporting apparatus, a rack stokerfor storing the transported rack, a plurality of analysis units forsampling a sample from the sample rack transported by said racktransporting apparatus to process analysis, a standby unit for lettingthe sample rack finished sampling of sample in any one out of saidplurality of analysis units temporarily stand by therein, and areturning line capable of returning the sample rack standing-by in saidstandby unit to an entrance side of said rack transporting apparatus,said analysis apparatus characterized by further comprising a firstanalysis unit having a pipetting device using a disposable nozzle tipand a second and a third analysis apparatus having a pipetting deviceusing a repetitively used pipette nozzle are included in said pluralityof analysis units, said plurality of analysis units being arranged atpositions in the order of the third analysis apparatus, the firstanalysis unit and the second analysis unit from the side near said racksupply unit, and a control part to control, wherein, relating to aspecified sample rack having a specified sample necessary for analysismeasurement in said first, said second and said third analysis units,the specified sample rack being transported to said first analysis unitto execute sample sampling using said nozzle tip first, then saidspecified sample rack being let stand by in said standby unit, saidspecified sample rack on standby in said standby unit being transferredto said rack transporting apparatus through said returning line whenre-measurement of said specified sample by said first analysis unit isdetermined to be necessary, then sample sampling for the re-measurementin said first analysis unit being executed.
 14. An analysis apparatusaccording to claim 13, wherein characterized in that said specifiedsample rack having said specified sample finished sampling of sample forre-measurement is transferred to said rack transporting apparatusthrough said returning line, and then said specified sample is sampledin said third analysis apparatus and/or said second analysis unit. 15.An analysis apparatus according to claim 13, wherein characterized inthat said specified sample rack on standby in said standby unit istransferred to said rack transporting apparatus through said returningline when re-measurement of said specified sample is determined to beunnecessary, and then said specified sample is sampled in said thirdanalysis apparatus and/or said second analysis unit. 16 An analysisapparatus according to claim 13, wherein characterized in that saidfirst analysis unit is to obtain a measured value of an analysis itemutilizing an immune reaction between the ample and a reagent, and saidsecond analysis unit is to obtain a measured value of an analysis itemutilizing a chemical reaction between the sample and a reagent, and saidthird analysis apparatus is to obtain a measured value of anelectrolytic component in the sample using an ion selective electrode.17. An analysis apparatus according to claim 13, wherein characterizedin that said standby unit has plurality of said standby parts which arerespectively attached said first, second and third analysis units.
 18. Amethod of handling a body fluid sample positioning a sample rack havinga sample to at least one out of a plurality of analysis units, andprocessing analysis of the sample sampled on said sample rack in saidanalysis apparatus, the method comprising the steps of processing saidsample by an analyzer having a first analysis unit having a firstpipetting device using a disposable nozzle tip and a second analysisunit having a second pipetting device using a repetitively used pipettenozzle, transporting a specified sample rack having a specified sampleto be analyzed in said first and said second analysis unit to said firstanalysis unit to sample said specified sample in said first analysisunit in prior to transferring said sample rack to said second analysisunit, letting said specified sample rack finished sampling of sample insaid first analysis unit temporarily stand by in a standby unit beforetransporting said specified sample rack to said second analysis unit,judging whether or not re-measurement of said specified sample by saidfirst analysis unit is necessary, transporting said specified samplerack from said standby unit to said second analysis unit and samplingsaid specified sample by said pipette nozzle if the result of judgmentis that re-measurement of said specified sample by said first analysisunit is not necessary, transporting said specified sample rack from saidstandby unit to said first analysis unit and sampling said specifiedsample for re-measurement in said first analysis unit if the result ofjudgment is that re-measurement of said specified sample by said firstanalysis unit is necessary, and transporting said specified sample rackfinished sampling of the sample for re-measurement to said secondanalysis unit and sampling said specified sample by said pipette nozzle.19. A method of handling a body fluid samples for analyzing plural kindsof analysis items of sample based on reaction between said samples andreagent in a reaction container in an analyzing part, said methodcomprising the steps of displaying a screen on a display device forselecting said analysis items and displaying an indication section onsaid display device for indicating necessity to avoid affection ofcarry-over between said samples relating to selected analysis item onsaid screen, executing sampling of said sample of said analysis item notindicated said necessity, after executing sampling of said sample ofsaid analysis item indicated said necessity, when said samples aresampled at said analysis part.
 20. A method of handling a body fluidsamples as defined in claim 19, wherein characterized in that aninformation to show said necessity is stored in a storage part relatingto said analysis item indicated said necessity, and when the sameanalysis item is selected to set a new analysis condition, saidinformation stored in the storage means is output to said displaydevice.
 21. A method of handling a body fluid samples for executing asample sampling relating to analysis items of said samples by using aanalysis apparatus having plurality of analysis parts to be able tosample said samples, said method comprising the steps of including afirst analysis part for receiving said sample to be sampled by using anozzle tip exchanged when said sample is exchanged and a second analysispart for receiving said sample to be sampled by using a pipette nozzleused commonly for the different samples, executing sampling of saidspecified sample at said first analysis part for the analysis itemhaving a higher level for avoiding said carry-over, before executingsampling of said sample for the analysis item having a lower level foravoiding said carry-over, when said specified samples to be analyzedplurality of analysis items having different levels for avoiding saidcarry-over are sampled, and executing sampling of said specified sampleat said second analysis part for the analysis item having a lower levelfor avoiding said carry-over, after said analysis item analyzed at saidfirst analysis part having a higher level for avoiding said carry-overis judged not to need re-measurement.